Environmental Health & Safety

Return to Campus Protocols

• Protocols | Find out what you need to know before returning to work/campus, including training, symptom tool, and more.

Supervisors

1. Authorization. Provide authorization for each employee to report onsite. 
2. Worksite specific plan. Must develop own COVID-19 Worksite Specific Plan to share with your employees/lab groups. In some cases, the Worksite Specific Plan may be routed to campus oversight committees for review and approval prior to return to campus. For Human Subjects Research, review Human Subjects Risk Matrix, create a new Worksite Specific Plan and be sure to complete the Human Subjects Research section, and subject a new or modified IRB application to irb@ucr.edu. 
3. Positive case? Refer to the COVID-19 Symptom monitoring and reporting procedures and Response to suspected COVID-19 cases: Guide for Department Leads, Supervisors, Chairs". Download the quick reference for Supervisors Infographic.

For All Returning Employees | COVID-19 Prevention Plan Campus Guidance

COVID-19 PREVENTION PLAN

The campus has developed general guidance, which all employees should review.

Prior to your return, your supervisor must share their Worksite Specific Plan with all their employees, and you must review and acknowledge.

Download the When To Return guidance infographic. 

For additional information, visit Research Ramp-Up Workgroup.

Decontamination 

• Laboratory spaces | Guidance for self-cleaning by researchers 
• Office space | Guidance for self-cleaning for general office space
• Disinfection kit | Request a Disinfectant Kit from Facilities Services.

Ventilation

We are continuously monitoring the recommendations and guidance from the WHO, CDC, and American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Based on the recommendations, Facilities is taking the following steps: 

• Maximizing outside air to increase air circulation +1 hour before and after normal operating hours so more fresh air is being brought in the buildings 
• Continuing to update HVAC air filters to the maximum allowed rating for each building system in occupied buildings

We remind you that the most effective way to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus is vaccination. For those that are unable to be vaccinated, the use of a mask, hand washing and physical distancing greatly reduce the potential for infection.

Filtration

Facilities Management maintains air conditioning and ventilation systems and replaces air filters on a schedule throughout the year. Filtration further mitigates risk of transmission in buildings with recirculated air. As air moves through a building's HVAC system, air filters trap and collect large and small particles such as dust, allergens and microorganisms.

For more information on Facilities Services HVAC and Ventilation information, visit the Facilities Services HVAC FAQs.

Transmission Reduction Efforts
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the COVID-19 virus appears to spread human-to-human through respiratory droplets coming from an infected person. Based on public health guidance, the key transmission reduction factors include:

• social distancing,
• limiting occupancy,
• practicing good personal hygiene, and
• utilizing face coverings

As part of the public health guidance, Facilities Services will disinfect high-touch areas including elevators, door handles, common areas and restrooms. We have made disinfecting kits available to departments and hand sanitizing stations are located at the entrance of each building. A map locating sanitizing stations can be viewed by clicking here. 

HVAC VENTILATION FAQ'S

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)

1. General Areas: Office Space
   General Area/Office Space Disinfection SOP
2. Laboratories
   Laboratory/Research Space Disinfection SOP
3. Facilities
   disinfection response plan SOP

Resources

• Training | COVID-19 Prevention Training
• Wellness Check | COVID-19 Wellness Check Survey 
• Hotline | Report suspect or confirmed cases: UCR Employee COVID Hotline: (844) 827-6827
• Concerns |  Report a COVID-19 or Public Health Concern to EH&S
• Face covering | Request a Face Covering
• Human Resources | Benefits/Leave Information
• Keep Researching | Announcements and guidance 
• Office of Research Integrity | Institutional Review Boards
• Research Ramp-Up |  Research Ramp-Up Workgroup
• Teaching |  Instructional Continuity Plan
• Testing | COVID-19 Testing Sites
• Travel | UC & UCR Travel Information
• Signage and posting Resources
• Visitors | UCR Affiliate Guide for Visitors, Contractors, Vendors and non UCR personnel that needs to come to campus. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the status of research operations at UCR?

  Learn more about the Return to Work Protocols, including:

  • Worksite Specific plan
  • Research Ramp Up
  • Decontamination
  • Resources

  https://ehs.ucr.edu/coronavirus/research

• How do I begin ramping down my research if necessary?

  Please review UCR's Lab Ramp Down Checklist.

  Curtailment of operations is not a reason to take shortcuts, risks, or suspend our usual safety and research compliance protocols. Research will continue to be subject to the same existing compliance regulations.  Moreover, we will all need to be extra vigilant about surface hygiene, social distancing, and general lab safety during this time.

  We remind you that in no circumstance should researchers take materials other than secure laptops, data storage devices, and other approved materials offsite (e.g., to their homes) to maintain research continuity during a curtailment.

  If you have chemicals that must be secured or picked up as waste, contact EH&S at ehslaboratory@ucr.edu

• What do I do about on-going animal experiments?

  Even if you are allowed to continue current experiments, no new animals should be ordered or new studies initiated if they could be delayed. Keep in mind that supply of PPE may be interrupted.